Message carrier



1,641,549 Sept 1927' c. L. PAuLus ET A MESSAGE CARRIER Filed Jan. 50, 1925 Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES TENT MESSAGE CARRIER.

Application filed January This invention relates to a message carrier for droppage from aircraft.

The principle object is to provide a message carrier having pyrotechnic signalling means mounted thereon, which may be discharged from an aircraft after the fashion of other pyrotechnics without incurring a fire hazard.

Another object consists in providing a message container having a pyrotechnic candle thereon for producing light and smoke, to attract the attention of the persons to be communicated with, and carrying a spike to support the carrier in an upright position on landing, in order to diminish the chances of conflagration.

A still further object of the invention consists in providing in connection with the pyrotechnic candle a wire screen covering, which serves as an additional precaution against fire when the carrier lands, and in providing a non-combustible heat insulation between the candle and the metallic container, so there will be no likelihood of the message in the container being destroyed by the heat of the burning candle being communicated to the container.

The foregoing objects are described more fully in the following specification containing a description of the drawing illustrating the invention.

The drawing is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation of a message carrier embodying the features of our invention above described.

The message carrier comprises a shell 1 of a cylindrical form and of a size to fit the pyrotechnic discharging apparatus included as standard equipmenton aircraft employed p by the United States Army and Navy; The message receptacle itself consists of a con tainer 2 of pressed sheet metal, having a pressed sheet metal cap 3 detachable therefrom by the pin and bayonet connection shown at 4:. The container carries a pyrotechnic candle 5 which is relatively slow burning, and will produce volumes of smoke and sufficient light to be readily visible day or night at a considerable distance. The candle is fastened to the container 2 in any suitable manner, to be removable with it as a unit from the shell 1. A layer of asbestos or other suitable non-combustible heat insulating material 6 is interposed between the candle and the container to prevent the conduction of the heat of the burning candle 30, 1925. Serial N0. 5,807,

to the metallic container when the carrier lands, inasmuch as this heat might be sufficient to cause the destruction of the message inserted in the container by the aviator. The cap 3 of the container carries a spike 7 which will bury itself in the ground or in the object upon which the carrier lands, holding the lighted candle erect and thereby averting any possible conflagration. The container, it will be understood, will have suificient .weight in comparison to the weight of the candle to insure the carrier landing spike down. For the further elimination of a fire hazard in the use of the carrier, we provide a wire screen covering 8 for the pyrotechnic candle.

The candle 5 is ignited by a booster charge 9 placed in the shell between the closed end 10 thereof and the candle 5. The booster charge is of fast burning powder, and serves not only to ignite the candle but also to expel it with the attached container from the shell. The booster charge is in turn ignited by a propelling charge 11, which is held within a cap 12 having a press fit on the closed end of the shell 1. A priming charge 13 in the cap 12 sets off the propelllng charge in the usual manner in the operation of the pyrotechnic discharger through which the carrier is discharged from the aircraft. An opening 14 is provided in the end 10 of the shell 1 through which the booster charge 9 is ignited by the burning of the propelling charge. This opening is elongated so that the shell is drawn sufiiciently clear of the aircraft before the firing of the main body of the booster charge 9 occurs, so that there is no ossible chance of the aircraft catching fire by the discharging of the carrier. The propelling charge itself is sufiicient only to elxpel the shell from' the discharger and forces the cap 12 ofl the shell, after the manner of the operation of other pyrotech- 1110s.

The container 2 is normally held in the shell by a wire handle 15, the ends of which are enlarged as indicated at 16 and engaged in openings 17 in the wall of the shell 1 by the inherent springiness of the wire. The enlarged ends of the handle prevent the passage of the ends of the handle through the wall of-a ca 18, fitting inside the shell over the end 0 the cap 3 of the container 2. It will be seen however that the pressing together of the ends of the handle retracts the ends from the openings 17 so that the handle with the cap 18, may be removed from the shell to permit the withdrawal of the container when the aviator wishes to insert a message, before dropping the carrier from the aircraft. The cap 18 has a depending wall 19 abuttin the top of the cap 3 of the container 2, to 101d the same from free movement inside the shell, and also to place the wall 20 of the cap 18 in spaced relation to the end of the spike 7 as indicated.

In the use of the carrier the handle 15 is compressed to remove the cap 18 so that the message container and its attached candle may be slid out of the shell by inverting the same. The cap 3 is quickly detachable to permit the insertion of a message in the container 2. Upon the replacement of the cap the container and candle will slip back into the shell, but thehandle 15 and cap 18 are left removed. The container and candle fit snugly within the shell so that they do not fall out when the carrier is placed in the pyrotechnic discharger. The discharger is operated in the usual manner by striking the knob thereon to set off the priming charge 13. This ignites the propelling charge and forces the shell 1 with its contents out of the discharger, the cap 12 being forced off the end of .the shell. The burning propelling charge i ites the booster charge through the pow er in the opening or duct 14, and when the shell has fallen an appreciable distance the ignition of the main body of the booster charge 9 occurs, forcing the container 2 and its candle out of the shell 1 andproducing the ignition of the candles. The container descends spike down and the candle produces a trail of smoke and suflicient light to be visible day or night at a considerable distance. The persons to be communicated with on the ground having observed the falling object are thereby directed toward the place it lands and have no difficulty in finding the same, due to the continued giving off of volumes of smoke in the burning of the candle. -In the use of the carrier there is no danger of the aircraft catching fire when the carrier is discharged, nor is there any danger of conflagration by the landing of the carrier due to the preventative measures hereinabove described.

We claim:

1. In a message carrier to be dropped from aircraft comprising a container, a light and smoke producing candle on the one end, and a spike on the other end,-the center of gravity of the carrier being nearer the spike end than the candle end.

2. A message carrier to be dropped from aircraft, comprising a message container, a pyrotechnic candle mounted thereon, and a screen covering for said candle,

3. Amessage carrier to be dropped from aircraft comprising a container, a trailin pyrotechnic candle mounted on one en thereof, a spike on the other end of said container, and a screen covering for said candle.

4. A message carrier to be dropped from aircraft comprising a container, a trailin pyrotechnic candle on the other end thereo a heat insulation on the container, and a spike on the other end of said container, said candle having a screen covering for the purpose described.

5. A message carrier of the character described comprising a shell closed at one end, a message container in said shell at the open end, a candle on said container between the latter and the closed end of said shell, a booster charge for igniting the candle, and means to ignite the booster charge.

6. A message carrier of the character described comprising a shell closed at one end, a message container in said shell at the open end thereof, a candle on said container between the latter and the closed end of said shell, a booster charge within the closed end of said shell for igniting said candle and expelling the same from the shell, a cap removable from the closed end of saidshell, and a propelling charge contained therein having an igniting primer charge, said shell having an opening in the closed end to cause ignition of the booster charge therein by the burning propelling charge.

7. A message carrier of the character described comprising a shell closed at one end, a handle for said shell, a message container in said shell held therein by said handle, said handle being removed when the carrier is to be dropped, a candle on said container between the container and the closed end of the shell, and means for igniting the candle, together with means to ignite the booster charge.

8. A message carrier of the character described com rising a shell closed at one end, a handle or said shell at the open end,

a message container fitting within said shell normall held therein by said handle, said handle eing removable when the carrier is to be dropped, a spike on the one end of said container at the open end of said shell, a cap covering said spike fitting with in the shell between the handle and the container, a candle on said container toward the closed end of the shell, and means for igniting the candle.

9. A message carrier to be dropped from aircraft comprisin havin a pyrotechmc candle thereon, and a shell or enclosing said container and candle having means for discharging the same from an aircraft as the pyrotechnic, said means servin to ignite the candle.

10. message carrier to be dropped from a message container aircraft comprising a message container and a pyrotechnic candle attached thereto, a shell for enclosing said elements and having a restricted powder train opening in its base, an ex losive between the bottom of the shell and the candle, and a cap retaining-means provided with a concussion cap so that when the cap is exploded the shell is expelled from the cap, causing the powder train to burn a predetermined period before igniting the explosive between the bottom of the shell and candle which ignition expels the container and candle from the shell and simultaneously starts the burning of the candle.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 10 with the addition of a spike attached to the heavier end of the message carrier.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 10 with the addition of a protective screen surrounding the candle.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 10 with the addition of a spike attached to the heavier end of the message carrier and a protective screen surrounding the candle.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

CHARLES L. PAULUS. ROBERT KAUCH. 

